Masters Degrees (Behavioural Finance)

Overview

There is mounting evidence that people violate many of the "rationality" assumptions of mainstream economics. Behavioural Economics is a relatively new field that studies such violations and proposes theories to explain them. Behavioural Finance is a part of Behavioural Economics that studies important "irrationalities" on financial markets. Key topics include common mistakes people make when deciding how much to save and how to invest, excess volume of trade, equity premium puzzle, bubbles, and predictability of financial markets.

Why study Behavioural Finance

Behavioural Economics and Behavioural Finance have grown tremendously in popularity in recent years. The Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded to Daniel Kahneman in 2002 for Behavioural Economics and to Robert Shiller in 2013 for Behavioural Finance. There has been increased interest by the public, as evidenced by a spate of popular books in these areas. There has also been increased interest by governments: for example, David Cameron appointed a "Behavioural Insights Team" in 2010 to help design government policies.

The backbone of the programme consists of a first-semester module in Behavioural Economics and a second-semester module in Advanced Behavioural Finance. Apart from these two modules, students can take modules covering more traditional topics in finance.

A thorough knowledge of Behavioural Economics and Behavioural Finance provides students with a deeper and more realistic understanding of financial markets than is offered by mainstream finance alone. Such knowledge also makes students less susceptible to common mistakes in their own lives and careers. A successful completion of the programme would provide students with valuable skills for a wide range of careers in areas such as investment, banking, public service, or academia.

Structure

The programme consists of five compulsory modules in semester A as well as two compulsory modules and three electives in semester B. During the summer period students will also have to complete a 30-credit 5000-word dissertation under the supervision of an academic member of staff.

Students will also be offered a two-week pre-sessional course whose aim is to introduce students without a strong quantitative background to the necessary mathematics and statistical concepts.
Click here for the full programme structure: http://econ.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/masters/msc-programmes/152610.html

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About the course:
-Take advantage of the expertise and facilities of two of the top schools in the country for both Finance and Psychology
-Specialise in one of the most exciting areas of Finance
-Broaden your vocational knowledge and build a mixture of marketable quantitative expertise and soft skills
-Experience a practice-centred delivery approach including hands-on sessions, case studies and trading simulations
-Study in the only UK Behavioural Finance postgraduate degree with a balanced curriculum in both disciplines

COURSE OVERVIEW

This programme provides a masters-level education with particular focus on Behavioural Finance, an interdisciplinary field which integrates psychology and financial economics.

This is the first postgraduate degree in the UK with a thorough and balanced curriculum with regard to both disciplines. The study of finance and psychology progresses through the programme so that students obtain a critical grasp of core theory along with thorough knowledge, skills of application and analysis.

CAREERS

Despite the volatile nature of the financial markets, demand for well‐qualified recruits remains high. Students schooled in the field of behavioural finance are in demand as investment banks, asset managers and associated industries attempt to understand investment patterns and pricing bubbles that cannot be explained by conventional finance theories. Thus, they have been showing increasing attention to behaviourally driven investment philosophies over the last few years. We expect many of our graduates to enter the industry at either the ‘Analyst’ level or as ‘Associates’, who tend to have several years of relevant professional experience.

Our graduates leave us equipped with knowledge and transferable skills that are also prized by employers outside of the traditional banking and finance sectors. Many of our Alumni are currently enjoying successful careers with multinational companies, consulting firms, government agencies and regulatory organizations throughout the world.Graduates will also gain the knowledge and skills required to continue their studies at the doctoral level.

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Demand is growing worldwide for experts who have the technical skills to measure and manage financial risk. This masters degree prepares you to meet these requirements, equipping you to respond to emerging developments in the global capital and money markets.

You’ll gain comprehensive knowledge of essential topics including the dynamics of financial markets, the causes and effects of financial risk and professional practices for measuring and managing portfolio risk. You can also choose optional modules allowing you to specialise in areas such as accounting, international banking and security investment analysis.

Learning from highly qualified teaching staff involved in world-class research in financial risk management, you’ll test your knowledge in genuine business scenarios during practical case study exercises and simulations. Thanks to our excellent links with industry and commerce, you’ll gain an understanding of the latest challenges in financial markets worldwide.

Academic excellence

As a student you will be able to access the knowledge of our advanced specialist research units, which also have strong links with leading institutions in the US, Europe and Asia. These include the Centre for Advanced Study in Finance (CASIF), the Institute of Banking and Investment (IBI) and the Credit Management Research Centre (CMRC). This research makes an important contribution to your learning on the MSc Financial Risk Management; you will benefit from a curriculum that is informed by the latest knowledge and critical thinking.

You will also benefit from our strong relationships with the finance, credit and accounting professions. This provides a connection to the latest practitioner and policy developments, giving you a masters degree that is relevant to the contemporary environment.

Course content

The course builds your understanding of essential topics such as corporate finance and applies financial theory to practical problems. You’ll study financial modelling, risk and insurance, managing portfolio risk and derivatives. You’ll also undertake professional skills training throughout the year to help you develop the critical skills to apply your knowledge into the workplace.

Beyond these core areas of study, you’ll be able to specialise in areas that suit your career plans with your choice of optional modules. You’ll take at least one of Behavioural Finance or Discrete Time Finance, and can choose from topics such as forensic accounting and finance, international banking and finance or information and organisation design.

You’ll also develop your knowledge of research methods in finance and by the end of the year, you’ll be prepared to design and carry out your own research dissertation on a related topic of your choice, developing your ability to tackle the most pressing challenges currently facing the industry.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

You’ll study eight compulsory modules including your dissertation.

• Portfolio Risk Management 15 credits
• Corporate Finance 15 credits
• Applied Finance 15 credits
• Research Methods in Finance 15 credits
• Financial Modelling and Analysis 15 credits
• Financial Derivatives 15 credits
• Accounting and Finance Dissertation 45 credits
• Critical Skills for the Finance Professional 15 credits

Optional modules

You’ll also take two optional modules. One of these must be either Behavioural Finance or Discrete Time Finance.

• Security Investment Analysis 15 credits
• Information and Organisation Design 15 credits
• Forensic Accounting and Finance 15 credits
• Behavioural Finance 15 credits
• International Banking and Finance 15 credits
• Financial Reporting and Analysis 15 credits
• Discrete Time Finance 15 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Financial Risk Management MSc in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies. These will include lectures, seminars, workshops, online learning and tutorials. Independent study is also vital for this course allowing you to prepare for taught classes and sharpen your own research and critical skills.

In addition to the assessed modules and research dissertation, you benefit from professional training activities and employability workshops. For example, students have developed their knowledge of financial markets through a one-week trading simulation delivered in partnership with Amplify Trading. Read more about our professional skills activities for finance students.

Assessment

Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. They include formal exams, group projects, reports, computer simulation exercises, essays and written assignments, group and individual presentations.

This diversity enables you to develop a broad range of skills as preparation for professional life.

Career opportunities

Graduates of this course are equipped with the skills and knowledge to pursue a range of career options within finance, including risk management, credit risk analysis, derivatives, insurance and finance research.

Previous graduates have gone on to work for a variety of financial institutions, investment banks, regulators and standard setters, international insurers, asset managers, underwriters and investment funds.

This degree is also an excellent qualification for individuals seeking to pursue further postgraduate research.

Careers support

We help you to achieve your career ambitions by providing professional development support and training as part of the Masters programme. You benefit from the support of a Professional Development Tutor, who will work with you to develop the important professional skills that employers value.

We’re committed to offering a wide range of development and training opportunities. Recent activities have included field trips to corporate headquarters, CV building and interview sessions, professional risk management workshops and commercial awareness networking events.

Read more about our careers and professional development support.

The University of Leeds Careers Centre also provides a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate.

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Global capital and money markets are rapidly evolving and critical expertise is highly sought after. If you’re interested in a professional career in finance and investment, this Masters will equip you to apply your problem-solving skills to the financial markets.

You’ll be introduced to advanced concepts and practices in essential topics including international investment, financial modelling, corporate finance and security investment analysis.

Thanks to our excellent links with industry, commerce and professional bodies, you’ll gain a practical understanding of how essential financial theory is applied in practice. Case study exercises and simulations test your knowledge in real business scenarios, connecting you with the latest challenges and issues in the financial markets.

You’ll learn from leading academics with research and consultancy expertise to gain a qualification valued worldwide in the finance and investment industry.

Academic excellence

As a student, you will be able to access the knowledge of our advanced specialist research units, which also have strong links with leading institutions in the US, Europe and Asia. These include the Centre for Advanced Study in Finance (CASIF), the Institute of Banking and Investment (IBI) and the Credit Management Research Centre (CMRC). This research makes an important contribution to your learning on the MSc Finance and Investment; you will benefit from a curriculum that is informed by the latest knowledge and critical thinking.

You will also benefit from our strong relationships with the finance, credit and accounting professions. This provides a connection to the latest practitioner and policy developments, giving you a masters degree that is relevant to the contemporary environment.

Course content

Throughout the course we support you to develop the professional skills that will be critical for a successful career in the financial services.

You’ll build knowledge of key topics in finance and investment such as financial modelling, corporate finance, security investment analysis and international business finance. You’ll apply this knowledge of financial theory to solve real problems and explore international investment in depth.

Your choice of optional modules will allow you to gain specialist knowledge in areas that suit your career plans. You’ll be expected to take at least one of Corporate Governance or Behavioural Finance, but you could also study accounting, financial derivatives, forensic finance and more.

The programme will improve your understanding of research methods in finance, during a dedicated module led by experts currently involved in cutting-edge research. You’ll apply this knowledge to design and carry out your own research dissertation on a related topic of your choice, developing your ability to tackle the most pressing challenges currently facing the industry.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

You’ll take eight compulsory modules including your dissertation.

• Security Investment Analysis 15 credits
• Corporate Finance 15 credits
• Applied Finance 15 credits
• Research Methods in Finance 15 credits
• Financial Modelling and Analysis 15 credits
• International Investment 15 credits
• Accounting and Finance Dissertation 45 credits
• Critical Skills for the Finance Professional 15 credits

Optional modules

You’ll also take two optional modules, one of which must be either Behavioural Finance or International Business Finance.

• Portfolio Risk Management 15 credits
• International Business Finance 15 credits
• Forensic Accounting and Finance 15 credits
• Behavioural Finance 15 credits
• Financial Derivatives 15 credits
• Corporate Governance 15 credits
• Discrete Time Finance 15 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Finance and Investment MSc in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies. These will include lectures, seminars, workshops, online learning and tutorials. Independent study is also vital for this course allowing you to prepare for taught classes and sharpen your own research and critical skills.

In addition to the assessed modules and research dissertation, you benefit from professional training activities and employability workshops. Thanks to our links with major companies across the business world, you can also gain a practical understanding of key issues.

For example, students have developed their knowledge of financial markets through a one-week trading simulation delivered in partnership with Amplify Trading. Read more about professional development activities for finance students.

Assessment

Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. They include formal exams, group projects, reports, computer simulation exercises, essays and written assignments, group and individual presentations and reflective logs.

Career opportunities

As a graduate of this course you will be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of core finance and investment principles, and the numerical and analytical skills to succeed in this rapidly changing complex environment.

Graduates have a broad appeal to employers in the worldwide finance sector. Many have gone on to careers such as traders, risk managers, portfolio managers and security analysts.

Our unique combination of business and mathematics modules enables you to perform successfully in a business environment by making the best use of your analytical and programming skills.

Careers support

We help you to achieve your career ambitions by providing professional development support and training as part of the course. You benefit from the support of a Professional Development Tutor, who will work with you to develop the important professional skills that employers value.

We’re committed to offering a wide range of development and training opportunities. Recent activities have included field trips, CV building and interview sessions, professional risk management workshops and commercial awareness networking events.

Read more about our careers and professional development support.

The University of Leeds Careers Centre also provides a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate.

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Understanding modern financial economics, which includes asset pricing, risk management, monetary policy and financial regulations for pursuing careers at, for example, banks, capital funds and finance ministries.
The spectacular growth of international capital markets is creating great opportunities. But, as the latest financial crisis has shown, this also entails major challenges for financial decision-makers and regulators of financial markets. The academic Master’s specialisation in Financial Economics is ideal for students who want to understand the workings of global financial markets, from asset pricing and risk management to monetary policy and financial regulation. It provides you with the necessary knowledge and skills set for careers in not just banks, investment funds, and financial exchanges, but also finance ministries or other governmental or non-governmental bodies of financial market oversight.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/fe

Why study Financial Economics at Radboud University?

- You will be part of a new generation of finance professionals, who not only understand traditional approaches in financial economics but who can also integrate modern behavioural and institutional aspects. This gives you a good understanding of the highly volatile behaviour of financial markets, including bubbles, crashes and crises.

- Besides offering a sound theoretical foundation, there is also plenty of attention for applying these concepts to real-world situations.

- You will be trained to think independently and critically about the way in which financial economics can be applied in your professional field and you will develop skills that will make a difference in the highly competitive global labour market.

- The specialisation pays special attention to global aspects of corporate finance, preparing students for an international career.

- Our lecturers are active in academic and applied research which allows them to incorporate the latest academic developments and applied issues. This will also enable you to actively participate in academic research in your Master’s programme.

- Professors and students interact in small groups, thus strengthening the academic atmosphere.

- Radboud University offers ‘Economics Plus’. Traditional economic models and business approaches are expanded with relevant knowledge from related disciplines such as psychology, teaching more in-depth knowledge that can be applied in today’s globalised world.

Ground breaking ideas

One of the most important aspects of this specialisation is to fully understand how financial markets work and what the possible implications are of measures taken to regulate them. How are asset prices of stocks, bonds, derivatives and other financial assets determined? How do markets deal with financial risk and how can we manage it? You are challenged to go further than simply understanding the concepts and to think creatively about ground breaking ideas of how to regulate constantly developing financial markets and new financial instruments. It’s about trying to get financial markets to work more efficiently, without exuberant bubbles and catastrophic crashes, and in support of a prospering world economy.

Career prospects

Employers are increasingly looking for a new generation of financial professionals, who understand more than the traditional concepts in financial economics and who can integrate this knowledge with institutional and behavioural insights to tackle a wide variety of problems. This Master’s specialisation will provide you with in-depth knowledge in asset pricing, risk management, monetary policy and financial regulations as well as behavioural finance. With this specialisation you will get the best possible understanding of how financial markets work and how to use your analytical skills to deal with today’s problems in financial markets.

Job positions

Our graduates have the necessary knowledge and skills to work for commercial banks, investment banks, and various types of stand-alone investment funds, as well as financial exchanges. Furthermore, careers in finance ministries or other governmental or non-governmental bodies of financial market oversight, such as central banks, the IMF and the World Bank, are also well within your reach. Due to our international approach, and by choosing the relevant electives, this Master’s can also prepare you for financial careers in multinational enterprises or large national companies.

Our approach to this field

The Master’s specialisation in Financial Economics primarily looks at financial markets, their behaviour, their regulation, and monetary policies. In this specialization we take a bird’s eye view and investigate global financial markets as a whole, for example, stock markets, commodity markets or derivative markets. But we also analyse the different classes of market participants, for example, banks, insurances, pension funds, activist investors and hedge funds. There are many topics that will be studied including bubbles and crashes in financial markets, exchange rate policies between countries and how they affect economic growth. But also measures that a government can take to minimise the risks that banks take, or financial innovations and how they can help to improve economic growth.

- Much more than traditional financial economics
We want to educate a new generation of finance professionals; ones who not only understand traditional financial economics, but can also work with modern institutional and behavioural insights. Financial markets are internationally integrated and often truly global. That is why at Radboud University, we also teach students how to be aware of the different institutional, cultural and psychological aspects in various financial markets. At Radboud University, we also know that psychological biases and emotions play a role in financial decisions. Therefore, a good understanding of financial economics includes knowledge about behavioural finance. Behavioural finance is a modern field in finance that uses psychology-based theories to explain financial decisions of individuals and how these can influence financial markets and create anomalies.

- Other specialisations of Economics
This specialisation looks at Finance from a market perspective and how financial markets can be regulated takes a broad view on markets. If you are more interested in Finance from a firm’s perspective and at its positioning within financial markets, we suggest you take a look at our Master's in Corporate Finance and Control. And for those wanting to know more about the trade relations between countries should take a look at our specialisation in International Economics and Business.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/fe

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You will be provided with rigorous training in the analysis of issues in finance and corporate policy while improving your analytical and technical expertise. The programme is ideal for those whose career objectives lie broadly with the financial services and banking sectors. You will have the opportunity to gain an in depth grounding with core courses such as Foundations in Finance, Corporate Finance and Quantitative Methods in Finance, and subsequently tailor your programme to match your end goals through the range of optional courses on offer. These include Fixed Income Securities and Derivatives, Investment and Portfolio Management and Decision Theory and Behaviour amongst others.

You will be taught by a top-ranking Department of Economics with expertise in a broad range of areas, including people who have worked and are still working in the finance industry in the broad areas of asset allocation and risk, as well as algorithmic trading.

With a relatively small intake each year you will benefit from a strong sense of group identity and will enjoy close contact with the academic staff of the department. The course director and course coordinators serve as your personal advisors up until the spring, when you will then be assigned a personal dissertation supervisor.

The MSc Finance is an excellent preparation both for a career in the financial services, banking and business sectors and policy making, as well further academic study.

See the website https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/economics/coursefinder/mscfinance.aspx

Why choose this course?

- The course offers an excellent opportunity to get a strong grounding in core areas of Finance and to specialise your knowledge further through the optional courses on offer.

-You will be taught by academics who produce world leading research some of whom are also currently working in the Finance and Banking sectors. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise we were ranked among the top 10 Economics Departments in the UK

- Students attend a two week pre-sessional quantitative methods course to ensure they are in a good position to start this challenging Masters courses

- The Department of Economics at Royal Holloway is unique in being a young department, created in 1995, in an established and prestigious college of the University of London.

- Our courses are small and select, thus ensuring that you will receive individual attention from the academic staff.

Department research and industry highlights

Economics is among the top departments in the UK for Research Excellence. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), 80% of the Department's research submitted was ranked as world-leading or internationally excellent (rated 3* and 4*).

A recent analysis of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) shows that the Economics Department at Royal Holloway is ranked 8th best department in the UK for publications. The study by Jim Taylor and Ian Walker provides further insight into the research standing of UK economics departments. Previous rankings from the data already showed the Department in the top 10 in the UK.

We run a weekly Internal Seminar which provides a lively forum for work at an early stage of development. Our External Seminar Series runs weekly during term and during the last academic year, welcomed over 20 external speakers from prominent places. Invitees are the usual mixture of established names and newer entrants to the profession thought to be doing exciting work. Our Discussion Paper Series provides a forum for journal-ready work.

Course content and structure

You will study five core course units and, in addition, a mathematics refresher course and a dissertation, as well as choosing two elective course units.

Core course units:
- Pre-sessional mathematics refresher course
All students attend the compulsory pre-sessional mathematics refresher course, which runs for 2 weeks in September, before the start of term. There are no additional fees for this course however students will need to pay for accommodation for the period of this course.

- Corporate Finance
You will be introduced to the techniques of financial analysis and their applications to corporate finance. The concepts developed form the foundation of most elective finance course units. You will learn about the time value of money and the net present value rule, how to value financial assets, capital budgeting decisions, uncertainty and the risk-return trade-off and corporate governance.

- Quantitative Methods in Finance
This course unit will introduce you to mathematical statistics and theories that are applied in financial econometrics. The second half of the unit concerns the analysis of time series data including ARMA models, the analysis of non-stationary time series data, cointegration analysis, vector autoregressive models, modelling volatility in asset returns, forecasting and bootstrapping.

- Foundations of Finance
The course unit in finance will expose you to the structure of the financial markets, the instruments traded and the participants. You will be provided with the necessary tools with which to analyse how the financial markets function and how problems arise from their operations.

- Research Methods
While conducting research sounds like an easy task, it can present difficulties. This unit aims to help you avoid such traps and to assist you in developing strong research skills so that you can conduct an efficient piece of research at the end of your degree.

- Dissertation
The dissertation gives you the opportunity to analyse an economics issue in depth. You will be assigned a dissertation supervisor and, by the end of March, will submit a preliminary dissertation report that contains a clear statement of the problem under consideration, the structure of the project and the research methods that are going to be applied. The dissertation is then written over the summer.

Elective course units:
- Fixed Income Securities and Derivatives
You will gain an introduction to the alternative forms of financial assets that are traded in addition to stocks. Fixed income securities are bonds, bills and notes that offer a certain stream of income to holders. Derivatives are contingent and non-contingent claims on financial assets and are widely used for hedging risk. You will learn how to price these assets, and how to use them effectively in managing portfolios and hedging risk.

- Empirical Finance
The broad aims of this unit are to give you advanced-level training in evaluation of empirical models in finance. It will enable you to apply both quantitative techniques and qualitative methods, learnt elsewhere, to test theories and get acquainted with the existing literature in the field of finance.

- Investment and Portfolio Management
Underlying theory and empirical evidence in portfolio management will familiarise you with its practice in the finance sector. You will acquire an understanding of how funds are allocated when constructing a portfolio.

- Decision Theory and Behaviour
This course unit will deepen your knowledge of rational decision making through the exploration of behavioural models, their formalization and their scope, including applications to finance. You will also become familiarized with both theoretical and experimental methods for research in decision theory and behavioural economics.

- Public Economics
Public Economics is concerned with the study of the effects of government policy and the design of optimal policies. You will assess the implications of basic welfare economics in public policy. A number of recent research areas in public economics are then discussed including income taxation, tax evasion, externalities and social security.

- Political Economy
This course will provide an advanced treatment of the tools used in political economy to tackle some major questions faced by public sector economists. It will in particular focus on the modelling of voters and politicians’ behaviours to address the role played by incentives and constraints faced by politicians when choosing public policies. The effect of different forms of institutional arrangements on public decision making and electoral accountability will be analysed from both a theoretical and empirical perspective.

Assessment

Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework, examinations and a dissertation.

Employability & career opportunities

Our graduates are highly employable and, in recent years, have entered many different economics-related areas, including careers as economists, financial analysts, accountants, bankers, journalists and business analysts. Our graduates are currently working for firms such as Accenture, TNS, RBS, Deloitte, and Baker and McKenzie. At the same time, this course also equips you with a solid foundation for continued PhD studies. Your careers ambitions are supported by our College Careers Service, located right next door to the economics department. They offer application and interview coaching, career strategy discussions, and the opportunity to network with major finance employers on campus. Our careers service is provided by the Careers Group, the main provider of graduate recruitment services in London. Thus, you will have additional access to a wealth of presentations and networking opportunities which make the most of London’s financial centre.

How to apply

Applications for entry to all our full-time postgraduate degrees can be made online.

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Master's specialisation in Corporate Finance and Control

Understanding a firm’s finances and knowing how to deal with not just economic but also managerial, legal, and reporting aspects to strengthen and maximise enterprise value.
In a continuously globalising world economy, how can financial managers increase the value of the firm for their shareholders and stakeholders? How do managers figure out what the best investment is and how much to invest? How can and should a company finance its operations? The Master’s programme in Corporate Finance and Control provides you with the latest theory and research, focusing on all the important scientific and practical aspects that deal with the financial management and governance of modern firms.
You will learn about international standards of financial accounting and reporting methods, corporate finance and governance, firm valuation, mergers and acquisitions, as well as risk management and other advanced topics in corporate finance. Graduates of Corporate Finance and Control are well equipped for careers as corporate financial manager, financial controller, or business consultant in multinational companies as well as small and medium sized enterprises.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/cfc

Why study Corporate Finance and Control at Radboud University?

- A sound foundation in corporate finance is integrated with modern institutional and behavioural insights, giving this Master’s specialisation a unique perspective.

- You will be confronted with both practical real-world business cases as well as the latest theoretical developments.

- You will be trained to think independently and critically about the way in which corporate finance can be applied in your professional field and you will develop skills that will make a difference in the highly competitive global labour market.

- You will be part of a new generation of finance professionals, who understand the economic and managerial implications of their decisions also from the perspective of modern institutional and behavioural insights.

- The specialisation pays special attention to global aspects of corporate finance, preparing students for a highly international career.

- Our lecturers are active in academic and applied research which allows them to incorporate the latest academic developments and practical issues. This will also enable you to actively participate in academic research in your Master’s programme.

- Professors and students interact in small groups, thus strengthening the academic atmosphere.

- Radboud University offers ‘Economics Plus’. Traditional economic models and business approaches are expanded with relevant knowledge from related disciplines such as psychology, teaching more in-depth knowledge that can be applied in today’s globalised world.

Tackling complex financial issues

We make sure that our Economics students have a strong background in both theory and practical real-world approaches. Within this specialisation of Economics, you will get a thorough understanding of state-of-the-art corporate finance integrated with modern institutional and behavioural insights. Understanding all the necessary facets will equip you with the knowledge and skills to tackle complex financial issues in today’s corporations.

Career prospects

Employers are increasingly looking for a new generation of financial managers, who understand both the economic and the business side of the financial workings of corporations and who can integrate this knowledge with institutional and behavioural insights to tackle a wide variety of problems. This Master’s specialisation will provide you with this in-depth knowledge and will teach you how to deal with today’s problems as a financial manager to strengthen a company’s finances and maximise its value.

Job positions

Our graduates have the necessary knowledge and skills to become financial manager, financial controller, or business consultant in multinational companies as well as small and medium sized enterprises. Careers as financial analyst, investment manager or general manager – thanks to your background in corporate finance and financial accounting – are also well within your reach.

Our approach to this field

This Master’s programme does not just look at raising and investing money, but also at controlling this process with proper financial accounting and reporting, governance and risk management. We want to educate a new generation of finance professionals, who understand the economic and managerial implications of their decisions also from the perspective of modern institutional and behavioural insights.

Due to globalisation there are very few companies that do not operate on an international scale, or at the very least interact with consumers, clients and/or partner organisations in other countries. Having a thorough knowledge of international issues has therefore become crucial for every financial manager and we pay special attention to these aspects in this specialisation. With internationalisation comes the complexity of different influences and systems. That is why at Radboud University, we also teach students how to be aware of the different institutional, cultural and psychological aspects of financial matters.

- Other specialisations of Economics
This specialisation looks at Finance from a firm’s perspective and at its positioning within financial markets. If you are more interested in Finance from a market perspective and how financial markets can be regulated, we suggest you take a look at our Master’s Financial Economics. Or if you want to discover the nitty-gritty of a company’s balance sheets and statements of financial position then Accounting and Control may be more interesting for you. And those wanting to know more about the trade relations between countries should take a look at our specialisation International Economics & Business.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/cfc

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Our MSc Finance is a challenging one year programme that prepares recent high calibre graduates and young professionals for a wide range of careers in the highly competitive, yet rewarding, financial services sector. Covering a broad range of topics, this programme not only offers a solid quantitative foundation, but underpins it using the latest research and practical applications.

MSc Finance has developed a reputation as one of the most intellectually rigorous quantitative finance programmes in Europe. The programme is consistently ranked among the best in London and is a CFA Programme Partner, giving students access to high-profile events, online resources and discounts on CFA exams.

The Programme

This programme prepares recent high calibre graduates for a wide range of careers in the financial services sector. It is an intellectually rigorous quantitative finance programme covering a broad range of topics. To introduce you to the tools of modern finance and enhance your career development skills you will study five compulsory foundation modules, including:
• Application of Matlab to Finance
• Business Valuation
• Financial Modelling
• Markets and Securities
• The Finance Industry

You’ll take six core modules which are the backbone of our programme, providing you with a solid knowledge base in each subject area. Each module builds on previous experience while introducing new and challenging disciplines. Core modules include:
• Corporate Finance
• Derivatives
• Empirical Finance: Methods and Applications
• Financial Econometrics
• Investment and Portfolio Management
• Mathematics for Finance
• Ethics and Professional Standards in Finance

The spring term begins with an International Experience. This two day trip to a European country offers students the opportunity to consider finance on an international field and strengthen their networks.

You will also be given the opportunity to choose from a variety of electives and undertake a final project. Electives to select from include:
• Advanced Corporate Finance
• Advanced Options Theory
• Behavioural Investment Management
• Corporate Strategy and Dynamic Competition
• Credit Risk
• Fixed Income Securities
• International Elective: Macro and Finance for Practitioners
• International Finance
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Private Equity and Venture Capital
• Quantitative Methods in Asset Management
• Real Estate Investment
• Structured Credit and Equity Products
• Wealth Management and Alternative Investments
• Topics in FinTech Innovation
• Big Data in Finance

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MSc in Finance

• You need an undergraduate knowledge of economics, finance and statistics.
• You will learn the research methods used in modern corporate finance in order to understand the relevance of corporate finance theory in an applied work setting.
• Case study approach in core modules helps develop analytical skills that can be used in everyday financial management applications.
• Obtain transferable technical skills in empirical financial modelling in small classes (between 20-25 students at lectures).
• Become knowledgeable about the functioning and rationale of leading financial institutions both in the UK and abroad.
• Pursue advanced studies in finance and cognate areas, allied to our strong tradition of our graduates working in the financial community.
• Recent career destinations of graduates include financial accounting, commercial banking, merchant banking, fund management, financial services, and further degree studies.

Features

* An academic team of 30 composed of world-leading specialists in Behavioural Economics, Decision Theory, Econometrics, Development, Growth, Finance, International Economics, Monetary Policy, and Strategy.

* You will enhance your analytical and decision-making abilities through training in problem solving, specifically through the use of quantitative and model-based methods of analysis.

* Dissertations are supervised on an individual basis by members of staff with internationally recognised expertise.

* Regular seminars and workshops bring you into contact with cutting edge research.

* Entry is competitive and entrance standards are high.

* These qualifications have taken previous students to a wide range of career opportunities across the globe.

Economics and finance are broad and important research fields linking almost all aspects of human activity: running a business, purchasing stocks and bonds, managing a charity, taking on a job, getting married, regulating an industry, administering a loan and so on. Despite this diversity the key concept is simple: economic agents act in pursuit of their own interests and this simple and unifying concept can be rigorously applied in many areas of research. These extend from core areas like macroeconomics, the business enterprise, and household behaviour, to areas such as innovation, taxation, the environment, quality of life, financial markets, the business cycle and inflation.

Economics and finance is expanding and changing at St Andrews and we have recently welcomed a number of new lecturing staff adding to our cosmopolitan staff. We bring understanding and excitement from the latest cutting-edge research into the teaching of all our postgraduate degree programmes. Our emphasis on smaller group teaching allows a high level of interaction between both students and teachers, encouraging a warm and friendly learning environment. We also offer an opportunity for our postgraduates to engage with our enthusiastic undergraduates via the School’s tutorial system. We encourage our postgraduates to take a full part in our guest lecturer seminar series and to attend international events, so broadening their interests and enabling exploration of the
widest application of economic theories.

Location

St Andrews has a tradition in economics and finance dating back over one hundred years.The School of Economics & Finance is located in Castlecliffe, a beautiful Edwardian mansion on The Scores, overlooking the delightful St Andrews Bay. Many of our students enjoy the rural pursuits on our doorstep with the opportunity to venture out to the mountains and even ski in the Cairngorms in the winter months.

Teaching

Our modules are delivered through traditional lectures and supported by a combination of tutorials, seminars or computer laboratory work, as appropriate. Choosing your individual syllabus is important and is done in personal consultation with your course director. You will be assessed by both continuous assessment and examinations, with exams held at the end of each semester. Students who complete the taught component, but not the dissertation, are eligible for a Postgraduate Diploma.

Each module typically has 20 lecture contact hours, and four seminar/ workshop/ tutorial contact hours (there is some variation by specific module design). Assessment is typically 50% by continuous assessment and 50% by two-hour examination (there is some variation in format by module design). Intensive independent study is expected of all students.

Careers

There is a long-standing tradition of our graduates working in a wide variety of challenging and rewarding posts, in economics, finance, commerce, insurance, industry, academia, diplomatic service, and banking. They work in the UK, Europe, and North America, and more frequently in locations such as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand.

Some more widely recognised graduates in Economics and Finance from St Andrews have included: Professor Sir Alan Peacock, Professor Ian Wooton, Professor Grant Baird, Professor Sheila Dow, Alex Pratt OBE, Alex Salmond former First Minister.

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MSc in Money, Banking and Finance

• Your first degree needs to contain a reasonable amount of economics – specifically, economics (intermediate micro and macro level), quantitative methods training background, and modules in money, banking, international finance, or international economics.

• If your background is exclusively in accounting, business administration, marketing or law/international relations you are unlikely to be qualified to undertake this programme and we suggest you look at other programmes offered by the University.

• You will develop high analytical ability in order to understand and develop the methods and rationale underlying modern banking, monetary policy and finance.

• You will become knowledgeable about the functioning and rationale of leading financial institutions, commercial and central banking, and the conduct and impact of monetary policy upon the financial system.

• You will develop analytical skills and competence with empirical tools.

• In designing and writing your dissertation you will receive individual supervision by scholars of international standing.

• Career destinations include commercial and central banking, investment banking, financial management, accounting and finance, assurance, insurance, actuarial science, corporate trading, venture capital, private equity, corporate finance, economic, industrial and management consultancy.

Features

* An academic team of 30 composed of world-leading specialists in Behavioural Economics, Decision Theory, Econometrics, Development, Growth, Finance, International Economics, Monetary Policy, and Strategy.

* You will enhance your analytical and decision-making abilities through training in problem solving, specifically through the use of quantitative and model-based methods of analysis.

* Dissertations are supervised on an individual basis by members of staff with internationally recognised expertise.

* Regular seminars and workshops bring you into contact with cutting edge research.

* Entry is competitive and entrance standards are high.

* These qualifications have taken previous students to a wide range of career opportunities across the globe.

Economics and finance are broad and important research fields linking almost all aspects of human activity: running a business, purchasing stocks and bonds, managing a charity, taking on a job, getting married, regulating an industry, administering a loan and so on. Despite this diversity the key concept is simple: economic agents act in pursuit of their own interests and this simple and unifying concept can be rigorously applied in many areas of research. These extend from core areas like macroeconomics, the business enterprise, and household behaviour, to areas such as innovation, taxation, the environment, quality of life, financial markets, the business cycle and inflation.

Economics and finance is expanding and changing at St Andrews and we have recently welcomed a number of new lecturing staff adding to our cosmopolitan staff. We bring understanding and excitement from the latest cutting-edge research into the teaching of all our postgraduate degree programmes. Our emphasis on smaller group teaching allows a high level of interaction between both students and teachers, encouraging a warm and friendly learning environment. We also offer an opportunity for our postgraduates to engage with our enthusiastic undergraduates via the School’s tutorial system. We encourage our postgraduates to take a full part in our guest lecturer seminar series and to attend international events, so broadening their interests and enabling exploration of the
widest application of economic theories.

Location

St Andrews has a tradition in economics and finance dating back over one hundred years.The School of Economics & Finance is located in Castlecliffe, a beautiful Edwardian mansion on The Scores, overlooking the delightful St Andrews Bay. Many of our students enjoy the rural pursuits on our doorstep with the opportunity to venture out to the mountains and even ski in the Cairngorms in the winter months.

Teaching

Our modules are delivered through traditional lectures and supported by a combination of tutorials, seminars or computer laboratory work, as appropriate. Choosing your individual syllabus is important and is done in personal consultation with your course director. You will be assessed by both continuous assessment and examinations, with exams held at the end of each semester. Students who complete the taught component, but not the dissertation, are eligible for a Postgraduate Diploma.

Each module typically has 20 lecture contact hours, and four seminar/ workshop/ tutorial contact hours (there is some variation by specific module design). Assessment is typically 50% by continuous assessment and 50% by two-hour examination (there is some variation in format by module design). Intensive independent study is expected of all students.

Careers

There is a long-standing tradition of our graduates working in a wide variety of challenging and rewarding posts, in economics, finance, commerce, insurance, industry, academia, diplomatic service, and banking. They work in the UK, Europe, and North America, and more frequently in locations such as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand.

Some more widely recognised graduates in Economics and Finance from St Andrews have included: Professor Sir Alan Peacock, Professor Ian Wooton, Professor Grant Baird, Professor Sheila Dow, Alex Pratt OBE, Alex Salmond former First Minister.

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Businesses and governments rely on sound financial knowledge to underpin their strategies for success.

This popular course has been ranked among the world’s best, placed Top 60 worldwide and Top 15 in the UK (Financial Times Masters in Finance Pre-experience rankings 2017). The rankings also recognise the career progression of our graduates, placing us 2nd worldwide and 1st in the UK for salary increase after graduation. This course will kick-start your professional career, providing you with advanced knowledge of modern financial theories, accounting practices and controls, as well as an understanding of the organisational context.

You’ll cover fundamental topics such as corporate finance and financial analysis, and can specialise your knowledge with optional modules, from international business finance to forensic accounting or corporate governance. The course also allows you to apply your learning to practical case studies and simulations to test your knowledge in genuine business scenarios.

Academic Excellence

You’ll learn from academics who are experts in their field, with extensive teaching, research and consultancy experience of international standing. At the same time, you’ll collaborate with graduates from diverse international backgrounds for a challenging, rewarding and rounded learning experience.

As a student, you will be able to access the knowledge of our advanced specialist research units, which also have strong links with leading institutions in the US, Europe and Asia. These include the Centre for Advanced Study in Finance (CASIF), the Institute of Banking and Investment (IBI) and the Credit Management Research Centre (CMRC). This research makes an important contribution to your learning on the MSc Accounting and Finance; you will benefit from a curriculum that is informed by the latest knowledge and critical thinking.

You will also benefit from our strong relationships with the finance, credit and accounting professions. This provides a connection to the latest practitioner and policy developments, giving you a Masters that is relevant to the contemporary environment.

Course content

You’ll explore the essentials of corporate finance and the relationship between accounting information and organisational performance. At the same time, you’ll build advanced skills in handling quantitative data and examine how modern finance theories are applied to solve complex finance problems.

You will gain an understanding of important research methods in finance and their impact on current practice, and explore topics such as financial analysis, reporting and regulation.

Beyond these core modules, you’ll be able to specialise in areas that suit your career plans with your choice of optional modules. You’ll take at least one of Corporate Governance or Information and Organisation Design, but you could also study topics such as forensic accounting, behavioural finance or international investment.

A professional skills module runs throughout the year to help you develop the critical skills that will allow you to take your knowledge into the workplace. By the end of the year, you’ll be prepared to design and carry out your own research dissertation on a related topic of your choice, developing your ability to tackle the most pressing challenges currently facing the industry.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

You’ll study eight compulsory modules including your dissertation.

• Quantitative Methods 15 credits
• Corporate Finance 15 credits
• Accounting and Organisational Performance 15 credits
• Applied Finance 15 credits
• Financial Analysis 15 credits
• Research Methods in Finance 15 credits
• Accounting and Finance Dissertation 45 credits
• Critical Skills for the Finance Professional 15 credits

Optional modules

You’ll also take two optional modules. One of these must be either Information and Organisation Design or Corporate Governance.

• Information and Organisation Design 15 credits
• International Business Finance 15 credits
• Forensic Accounting and Finance 15 credits
• Behavioural Finance 15 credits
• International Investment 15 credits
• International Banking and Finance 15 credits
• Corporate Governance 15 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Accounting and Finance MSc in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies. These will include lectures, seminars, workshops, online learning and tutorials. In addition to the assessed modules and research dissertation, you benefit from professional training activities and employability workshops.

Thanks to our links with major companies across the business world, you can also gain a practical understanding of key issues. For example, students have developed their knowledge of financial markets through a one-week trading simulation delivered in partnership with Amplify Trading. Read more about professional development activities for finance students.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed using methods such as exams, project work, presentations, reports and essays. This diversity enables you to develop a broad range of skills as preparation for professional life.

Career opportunities

Career opportunities for graduates of this masters course are vast. You will be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of core accounting and finance principles, and the numerical and analytical skills to succeed in this rapidly changing complex environment.

Graduates have gone on to work as management accountants, management consultants, audit managers, finance managers, equity managers and credit risk officers.

Careers support

We help you to achieve your career ambitions by providing professional development support and training as part of the Masters programme. You benefit from our dedicated Professional Development Tutor, who will work with you to develop the important professional skills that employers value.

We’re also committed to offering a wide range of development and training events and activities. Recent activities and events have included field trips to corporate headquarters, CV building and interview sessions, professional risk management workshops and commercial awareness networking events.

Read more about our careers and professional development support.

The University of Leeds Careers Centre also provides a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate.

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This Masters degree provides you with knowledge of advanced finance concepts, whilst developing your quantitative, mathematical and research skills.

Taught by experienced academics based in both Leeds University Business School and the School of Mathematics, you’ll cover key topics including financial derivative pricing, discrete and continuous time models, risk management and portfolio optimisation, as well as statistical methods for finance.

You will be equipped with a rare combination of mathematical skills and the latest business finance knowledge, which is highly sought after in the financial sector by banks, investment and consultancy companies. It’s also excellent preparation if you’re interested in pursuing further academic research.

This course is ideal if you’ve previously studied finance, economics, mathematics, physics or computing, and are interested in applying your skills to financial markets.

Academic excellence

As a student, you will be able to access the knowledge of our advanced specialist research units, which also have strong links with leading institutions in the US, Europe and Asia. These include the Centre for Advanced Study in Finance (CASIF), the Institute of Banking and Investment (IBI) and the Credit Management Research Centre (CMRC).

This research makes an important contribution to your learning on the MSc Financial Mathematics; you will benefit from a curriculum that is informed by the latest knowledge and critical thinking.

You will also benefit from our strong relationships with the finance, credit and accounting professions. This provides a connection to the latest practitioner and policy developments, giving you a masters degree that is relevant to the contemporary environment.

Course content

In your first semester you’ll develop a broad understanding of corporate finance and how financial theory relates to practice in business and financial markets. This will put your mathematical studies into context while you develop your skills in applied statistics and probability, optimisation methods and discrete time finance.

You’ll build on these skills in topics such as continuous time finance, risk management and computational methods. You’ll also gain specialist knowledge in topics that suit your career ambitions such as risk and insurance, actuarial science and behavioural finance.

The programme will improve your research skills and allow you to study different research methodologies, including those employed by our own leading academics. This will prepare you for your dissertation – an independent research project on a topic of your choice that you’ll submit by the end of the year.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

You’ll take nine compulsory modules including your dissertation.

• Corporate Finance 15 credits
• Financial Mathematics Studies Dissertation 30 credits
• Applied Statistics and Probability 15 credits
• Discrete Time Finance 15 credits
• Continuous Time Finance 15 credits
• Research Methods in Financial Mathematics 15 credits
• Risk Management 15 credits
• Computations in Finance 15 credits
• Optimisation Methods for Finance 15 credits

Optional modules

You'll also take two optional modules.

• Security Investment Analysis 15 credits
• Portfolio Risk Management 15 credits
• Behavioural Finance 15 credits
• Financial Derivatives 15 credits
• International Investment 15 credits
• Models in Actuarial Science 15 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Financial Mathematics MSc in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies. These will include lectures, seminars, workshops, online learning and tutorials. Independent study is also vital for this course allowing you to prepare for taught classes and sharpen your own research and critical skills.

In addition to the assessed modules and research dissertation, you benefit from professional training activities and employability workshops. Thanks to our links with major companies across the business world, you can also gain a practical understanding of key issues.

Recent activities have included CV building and interview sessions, professional risk management workshops and commercial awareness events. For example, students have developed their knowledge of financial markets through a one-week trading simulation. Read more about professional development activities for postgraduate finance students.

Assessment

Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. They include formal exams, group projects, reports, computer simulation exercises, essays and written assignments, group and individual presentations.

This diversity enables you to develop a broad range of skills as preparation for professional life.

Career opportunities

You have various opportunities open to you as a Financial Mathematics graduate, including: quantitative analysis, risk management, investment banking, financial consultancy, insurance, accounting and academia.

Previous graduates have gone on to secure employment with Allianz (London), AstraZeneca, Barclays, Cathay Life Insurance, CITIC Group, Commerzbank, Deloitte, First Direct, Gaz de France, HSBC, KPMG, Moody’s, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Royal Bank of Scotland, RSA and UK Government Actuary’s Department.

Careers support

We help you to achieve your career ambitions by providing professional development support and training as part of the course. You benefit from the support of a professional development tutor, who will work with you to develop the important professional skills that employers value.

Read more about our careers and professional development support.

The University of Leeds Careers Centre also provides a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website

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Why take this course?

This course is aimed at graduates who are looking to pursue careers in investment analysis, stock broking, securities trading, fund management, banking and investment banking in financial institutions. It is also suitable for those who are aiming for careers in corporate financial management in large non-financial companies. The curriculum covers the three key areas of finance: investments, corporate finance, and financial markets and institutions, with a focus on financial investments.

What will I experience?

Students are taught by academically qualified and enthusiastic staff with research and consultancy experience and links to industry. Access to extensive financial databases including Bloomberg, DataStream and Bank Scope is available along with excellent library facilities and with 24-hour internet access to leading databases.

On successful completion of your Bloomberg training you will be awarded the Bloomberg Certificate, an essential qualification for all city professionals.

What opportunities might it lead to?

Our graduates have gained employment in a wide range of roles and industrial sectors. These include investment analysis, banking and investment banking in financial institutions as well as in accountancy and general management.

The University of Portsmouth is recognised as a centre of excellence for finance teaching by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI). You will be eligible for student membership and this provides access to a range of networking and career opportunities. During the programme you will be prepared for CISI's Integrity Matters and Corporate Finance Technical Foundation examinations. Successfully completing these examinations allows you to achieve an industry-recognised professional qualification alongside your degree.

Module Details

Financial Econometrics

Econometrics is a core tool used in the study of finance. The aim of this unit is to give you a strong practical understanding of the econometric tools you will be using throughout your study of finance. The teaching philosophy is to take an applied approach, to provide you with a strong intuitive understanding of the most important statistical techniques, and how to apply them successfully to a wide variety of practical situations in finance using the main statistical packages, such as Eviews and SPSS. Many of the econometric techniques covered are used and applied in other units in the course, to help you gain a good practical understanding of how to apply them in the practice of financial management.

Derivatives: Options, Futures and Swaps Markets

In this unit you will study the main derivatives securities and markets, options, forwards, futures and swaps. The emphasis is on the study of derivatives pricing models and how these are applied in speculation, hedging, arbitrage and price discovery in financial investments as well as in the measurement and management of financial risks. In finance some models work better than others. The pricing models and techniques developed in derivatives work so well that all professionals working in derivatives markets use these models and techniques all the time, every day. In this unit you will acquire a high degree of theoretical understanding and practical competence in using and applying these techniques.

Corporate Finance and Business Valuation

In this unit you will study the primary financial decisions of the firm, working capital management, advanced capital budgeting techniques, the strategic analysis of capital investment decisions, capital structure theories, and the financing and dividend decisions. Theories will be appraised in the context of empirical research to facilitate critical understanding of the issues. In the second half of this unit you will move on to the advanced study of business valuation. The main focus is on providing a strong practical understanding, and on the application of the key professional techniques used in firm valuation, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and private equity transactions.

Portfolio Theory and Behavioural Finance

In the first half of this unit we look at stock markets and bond markets from the rational perspective. Here you will study the standard material of ‘modern portfolio theory’. In the second half of the unit we move on to behavioural finance, looking at the emotional, cognitive, institutional, and agency theory factors that impact upon financial markets. Topics include stock market booms and busts, financial crises, systematically irrational market behaviours, and the investment strategies that have been devised to exploit them. The unit has a strong practical philosophy. The theory, empirical research and analysis of real data that you will study are designed to help you to become a better investor.

Research Methods and Dissertation

This is a scheme of independent research. We offer comprehensive training through lectures and workshops throughout the year to develop skills commensurate with standards of good research practice. You will be assigned a Dissertation supervisor who will provide feedback, guidance and support on an individual basis.

Programme Assessment

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, computer-based workshops, invited speakers and live case studies. Student participation is encouraged and classes are challenging but informal and friendly, which promotes discussion and debate. The course tutors are available to support your studies and you will also have a personal tutor to provide help and guidance for any problems that you might have.

You are assessed in a variety of ways to reflect the individual topics. Our approaches to learning, assessment and feedback are varied and constructive, to help you build the personal management and employability skills that are essential for a fulfilling career.

Student Destinations

This course is designed to provide you with powerful analytical tools and methods to understand the complexities of modern financial markets. These skills are in high demand and you’ll be strongly placed to enter industry in the finance and industrial sectors. Previous graduates have gone on to secure roles in accountancy and general management as well as investment analysis, banking and investment banking in financial institutions. Alternatively, this course is also beneficial if you are aiming for careers in corporate financial management in large non-financial companies.

Roles our graduates have taken on include:

Commercial Finance Analyst
Bid Pricing Executive
Finance Internship
Graduate Econometrician
Hedge Fund Manager

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This intensive one-year programme provides a flexible and attractive set of units to those interested in applied research. Exit degrees, based on optional units taken, provide a distinct choice of academic route for those who are interested in a research career, as well as those who want further training at postgraduate level but do not intend to become academic researchers.

The School of Economics, Finance and Management has an international reputation for research excellence. Faculty members in the school regularly publish in top international journals and the school is expanding following substantial recent success in research funding applications.

Programme structure

Core units - The programme starts with four compulsory units in the first term:
-Microeconomics
-Macroeconomics
-Econometrics
-Applied Economics

Optional units - Four units are taken in the second term. This is where you shape your exit degree based on choices from the 11 available units. The four available exit degree titles are:
-MSc Economics
-MSc Economics (Macroeconomics)
-MSc Economics (Microeconomics)
-MSc Economics (Economic Policy)

Each exit degree has a unique structure as follows:
-MSc Economics
You can choose any of the option units from the listing.
-MSc Economics (Macroeconomics)
You must take Further Macroeconomics plus three units from: Further Econometrics, Banking, Derivatives, Behavioural Finance.
-MSc Economics (Microeconomics)
You can take four units from: Labour Economics, Health Economics, Education Economics, Development Economics, Further Econometrics, Banking.
-MSc Economics (Economic Policy)
You must take Programme Evaluation and Policy Experiments plus two units from: Labour Economics, Health Economics, Economics of Education, Development Economics.

The full list of units:
-Banking
-Behavioural Finance
-Derivatives
-Development Economics
-Economics of Education
-Further Econometrics
-Further Macroeconomics
-Health Economics
-Labour Economics
-Policy Experiments
-Programme Evaluation

Unit availability is subject to staffing and timetable constraints. Please note: the number of available places on some units may be capped.

Dissertation
There will be a dissertation element for all of the above programmes. You will apply appropriate technical, methodological and intellectual skills that have been developed over the programme to a piece of applied research devised in consultation with a supervisor.

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How should financial professionals react to increasing regulatory and technological change? What tools and skills must you possess for a successful career in finance and investment?

This professionally recognised course provides advanced knowledge of finance and investment.

We develop your analytical skills and use of quantitative tools through industry-standard Bloomberg software. You tackle real-world investment decisions in our virtual trading floor, designed with input from a practicing Hedge Funder Manager. Our trading floor replicates the professional setting you might find in the City, allowing you to develop the skills needed in industry and gain an advantage in the graduate recruitment market.

You embark on a broad educational programme, preparing you to face the challenges of managing and working in organisations operating in varying and complex economic, social, political and cultural conditions. Upon graduation, you may be suitable for employment in a host of finance and investment posts.

You develop knowledge and skills in:
-Portfolio theory
-Fixed-income securities
-Behavioural finance
-Corporate finance

MSc Finance and Investment is taught at Essex Business School. We’re ranked in the top 25 in the UK for research excellence (REF, 2014) and we embed the latest academic thinking in our teaching to ensure you experience the cutting-edge of contemporary finance. We’re an internationally diverse school, with our Masters students joining us from more than 40 countries.

Our MSc Finance and Investment covers more than 70% of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Programme Candidate Body of Knowledge. Upon completing this course, you are well positioned to sit for the CFA exams, which are among the most widely-recognised and established qualifications in the UK.

Essex Business School offers a limited number of scholarships for the CFA level one exam and Investment Management Certificate (IMC) level one and two exams to exceptional Masters students. We are an IMC Advantage Partner and a Recognised Partner of the CFA.

This course is also available to study part time and the University of Essex offers scholarships and discounts that you may be able to take advantage of. Postgraduate loans for Masters courses are now available from the Student Loans Company, worth up to £10,000, for students from the UK and EU.

Our expert staff

Essex Business School has one of the largest finance groups in the UK and is home to Essex Finance Centre.

With both academic and industry experience, our expert team are at the forefront of the financial debate; their work has been discussed at the Bank of England, the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve.

We use a broad range of social science theories and concepts to explore:
-Business ethics and corporate social responsibility
-Organisation studies
-Leadership and strategy
-Finance and banking
-Risk management
-International management

Specialist facilities

You benefit from a stunning work environment in our new zero carbon building, including facilities such as:
-A winter garden, which provides the building’s unique micro-climate
-Light and spacious lecture theatres
-Study pods and innovation booths for group working
-Networking opportunities with visiting businesses
-Bonds café
-Study skills services

Your future

In 2015, 78% of our postgraduate taught students were in work or further study (DLHE).

By completing this course, you should understand the financial drivers of an increasingly complex business world and have the best foundation for your career in finance.

Many of our recent graduates work for high-profile organisations worldwide, including:
-Deutsche Bank
-Standard Chartered
-GlobeOp Financial Services

As well as enjoying careers in financial analysis, management, public administration and accountancy, many of our graduates are successful entrepreneurs.

Throughout your course, our dedicated employability team will help you find information about work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities. Advice and opportunities are also available from the University’s Employability and Careers Centre.

Example structure

-MSc Finance and Investment: Dissertation
-Portfolio Management
-Research Methods in Finance: Empirical Methods in Finance
-Behavioural Finance
-Corporate Finance
-Fixed Income Securities
-Postgraduate Mathematics Preparation
-Asset Pricing (optional)

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